Trapper nelson dimension

JP100

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Hi guys
I'm looking at making up a little of gear from the early 1900s mainly for fun and will do some trips with it.
All the other gear (clothing and rifle) I have either got or know where to get.

I'm looking at making a trapper nelson and wondering if anyone has one they could give me the dimensions of?
They are not very common here and have not found one I can look at.
Would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

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JP100

JP100

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I should add it's mainly the frame dimensions I'm after. Once I have the frame built in will get a sail maker I know to make the bag for me

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North61

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Whitehorse, Yukon
we have an original. When my son wakes up I'll take it out and measure for you. It's a bit small to fit people from another era but quite strong. We put a hip belt on it and it is surprisingly comfortable.
 
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Cross members on the one I've got in hand are 2" wide steam curved oak top and bottom + a 1" wide middle piece under the canvas.

I've got another one I can get at in a few day I could strip down for more detail if needed.


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VernAK

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Delta Jct, Alaska
You are correct...I turned on some lights and it does appear to be oak in cross members.

I googled on; [Trager Mfg Trapper Nelson] and found a pile of information including a restoration
project that may consume part of my winter.
 
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JP100

JP100

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Thanks alot guys. Have been doing alot of looking at have a few dimensions sorted. Looks pretty simple to make really. Bending the cross arms is the only tricky part. Will just use pine for mine for ease of sourcing.
Saw some stats that the whole bag and frame weighed in at like 1.9kg. Which is lighter than the kuiu icon 7200....... we have sure gone a long way in weight savings......hahah

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They are pretty light for sure. Bags varied in size quite a bit. I had one that was pretty huge, but my brothers was relatively compact. My great grandfather was a heavy user back in the day







Tarps, "quilts", and UL packs aren't exactly new stuff!


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JP100

JP100

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Joined
Dec 20, 2013
Messages
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Location
South Island New Zealand
They are pretty light for sure. Bags varied in size quite a bit. I had one that was pretty huge, but my brothers was relatively compact. My great grandfather was a heavy user back in the day







Tarps, "quilts", and UL packs aren't exactly new stuff!


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Awesome photos! We have alot to learn about living in the outdoors from the turn of the century. What they achieved back then with so little was pretty amazing

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Jon Boy

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They are pretty light for sure. Bags varied in size quite a bit. I had one that was pretty huge, but my brothers was relatively compact. My great grandfather was a heavy user back in the day







Tarps, "quilts", and UL packs aren't exactly new stuff!


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Coolest photos I have seen in a long time. The guys that did those kind of hunts back then were hard core.
 
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Thanks alot guys. Have been doing alot of looking at have a few dimensions sorted. Looks pretty simple to make really. Bending the cross arms is the only tricky part. Will just use pine for mine for ease of sourcing.

I would think using oak or something similar would be critical for those cross members. There isn't much lateral cross bracing, so those bolted attachment points have to be able to handle some torque without splitting through the end grain.

I started out using one as a trapping pack. Hauled out quite a few furbearers in one that was many years older than myself.




Yk
 
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JP100

JP100

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Joined
Dec 20, 2013
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Location
South Island New Zealand
I would think using oak or something similar would be critical for those cross members. There isn't much lateral cross bracing, so those bolted attachment points have to be able to handle some torque without splitting through the end grain.

I started out using one as a trapping pack. Hauled out quite a few furbearers in one that was many years older than myself.




Yk
Am thinking pine for the up rights and ply wood for the cross members. We don't have much oak here haha

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